He furrows his brows. “No?”
“I don’t want it.”
“What?” Ana says, her eyes widening. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s what you’ve been working toward.”
“I know,” I agree, with a nod, before I look at Lucas. “But I can’t accept this role when I’d always be wondering whether the only reason I did was because of you.”
“Mads,” he says, his brows knitting together. “That’s not—”
“You had to call them,” I remind him. “You had to personally reach out to even pique their interest in my audition tapes. And when the news broke…” I shake my head. “All I got was a brief paragraph letting me know they were going in another direction. And suddenly, when you’ve cleared it up, the job is miraculously back on the table?”
Lucas settles into a sigh, knowing I’m right. “Are you sure?” he asks. “She’s one of your favorite directors.”
“I’m sure. If they genuinely wanted me for my talent, then the news about our fake relationship wouldn’t have swung their decision. I want to know I earned the part because of my skill, not because of favors or connections. I refuse to start my acting career with a handout.”
Ana releases a sigh, her shoulders slumping. “You guys are making my life complicated.” She shakes her head. “But if that’s what you want, then I’ll let her know.”
A smile spreads across my face, relieved by my decision. “Thank you.”
She nods. “We’ll be in touch.”
Lucas and I stand up and head out of Ana’s office, and as soon as the door closes, Lucas gently turns me around, his hands cupping my face. “How are you feeling?” he asks, his touch bringing me comfort.
I let out a breath, savoring the warmth of his hands. “Good,” I assure him.
“Yeah?” he asks, studying my expression. “That would have been a huge opportunity.”
“I know,” I agree. “It’s why I agreed to this fake dating deal in the first place. But I don’t want it looming over my head,” I tell him. “Years to come, when I’m a famous actress, I want to know I got there because I genuinely deserved it.”
Lucas grins, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. “I’m so proud of you,princesa,” he says. “I can’t wait to see you walk down the red carpet at your premiere.”
I let myself envision it, and my chest swells with hope. “You really think it’ll happen?”
He scoffs. “I know it will. I wasn’t lying when I said you were talented, Mads, and I can’t wait for the world to see it.”
His eyes burn into mine, and I smile up at him, taking a sip of my coffee before I end up crying in this hallway. A groan escapes me when the coffee hits my tongue, and I shake my head. “She deserves an award for being able to make my coffee just the way I like it.” Lucas’s cheeks turn pink, and I blink. “What?” I ask, curious about his expression.
He lets out a sigh. “Do you remember that first meeting we had with Ana?” I nod. “I brought two coffees that day, and I noticed you eyeing it, probably thinking one was for you. I feltlike shit for not bringing you one, so before the photoshoot, I asked Leila what you liked to drink, so I could bring you a coffee.”
“You did?” I ask him.
He nods, letting out a chuckle. “You hated me back then, and I just wanted to make you happy.”
I shake my head, shocked by his confession. I misunderstood him for so long, thinking he couldn’t stand being around me, completely oblivious to the subtle gestures he did for me. “Wow,” I breathe out, a playful smirk on my lips. “So you’re telling me you had a crush on me even back then?”
His eyes narrow. “That’s not at all what I said.”
I tut, shaking my head. “That’s what I heard,” I tease.
A laugh escapes him. “Fine,” he says, his smile warming my body. “You win.”
“I win?” I ask.
“Yeah, baby.” His hand curls at the back of my neck, and he leans down until his lips hover just an inch away from mine. “You win. I liked you, I wanted you, and I wanted to kiss you so badly. Even back then, even with your rules firmly in place, even when you hated me.”
My lips part, and I stare up into his eyes, my tongue darting out to lick my bottom lip. “You can kiss me now,” I whisper, not caring that anyone could walk by at any minute. I need his lips on mine. I need him.
His smirk causes a jolt of lust to flash through me. “You want my lips on yours?” he asks. I nod, tilting on my tip-toes and leaning a little closer to him. He hums, brushing his thumb over my parted lips. “How much?” he asks.
